Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli's stellar performance on April 6 during the IPL 2024 match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) wasn't limited to just batting heroics. The match, played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, witnessed Kohli etch his name in the record books despite .
Virat Kohli makes history
The 35-year-old batting juggernaut achieved a remarkable fielding feat by surpassing Suresh Raina's long-standing record of most catches in the IPL. Kohli's diving catch of Riyan Parag's dismissal in the 16th over, bowled by Mohammed Siraj, marked his 110th catch in the IPL, surpassing Raina's tally of 109 catches accumulated over 205 matches. Kohli's achievement is even more impressive considering he's one of only three players to have crossed the 100-catch mark in the IPL, with the other two already retired. His closest competitor, former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, currently sits at 99 catches in 246 IPL matches.
Players with most catches in IPL:
POSITION | PLAYER | TEAM(S) | MATCHES | CATCHES |
| 1. | Virat Kohli | RCB | 242 | 110 |
| 2. | Suresh Raina | CSK, Gujarat Lions | 205 | 109 |
| 3. | Kieron Pollard | MI | 189 | 103 |
| 4. | Rohit Sharma | Deccan Chargers, MI | 246 | 99 |
| 5. | Shikhar Dhawan | DC, MI, SRH, PBKS | 221 | 98 |
| 6. | Ravindra Jadeja | RR, KTK, CSK, Gujarat Lions | 230 | 98 |
Virat Kohli's century goes in vain
Kohli not only scripted record in catching but in batting as well. He smashed a brilliant 113 runs off just 72 balls, peppering his innings with 12 fours and 4 sixes. This was Kohli's eighth century in IPL, extending his lead with Chris Gayle, who has six tons against his name in the glitzy league. Partnering with Faf du Plessis (44), Kohli built a solid 125-run opening partnership, propelling RCB to a respectable total of 183 runs for the loss of only three wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Unfortunately, despite Kohli's heroics, RCB fell short of victory. Jos Buttler, playing in the landmark 100th IPL match, stole the show with a blistering century for the Rajasthan Royals. His knock propelled the home team to chase down the 184-run target in just 19.1 overs, securing a six-wicket win. However, Kohli's individual performance was still a sight to behold. His record-extending eighth IPL century for RCB wasn't the only milestone he achieved. During his knock, he also crossed the prestigious marks of 7500 IPL runs and 8000 T20 runs for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. In total, he has a staggering 8003 T20 runs for RCB in 257 matches, a testament to his loyalty and consistency with the franchise. Kohli's dominance extended beyond his century. He now holds the record for most runs scored in the IPL against the Rajasthan Royals, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan. With 731 runs in 30 matches against the Royals, Kohli has cemented himself as a true nemesis for the inaugural IPL champions.
RCB will now lock horns with Mumbai Indians on April 11 at Wankhede stadium.
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